The Indo-The Indo-EuropeansEuropeans

Indo-Europeans MigrateIndo-Europeans Migrate The Indo-Europeans The Indo-Europeans

were a nomadic group were a nomadic group coming from the steppes coming from the steppes north of the Caucasus north of the Caucasus Mountains, between the Mountains, between the Black and Caspian Seas. Black and Caspian Seas. They were pastoral They were pastoral livestock herders.livestock herders.

No one is completely No one is completely sure why the migration sure why the migration happened, but the Indo-happened, but the Indo-Europeans migrated Europeans migrated outward in all directions outward in all directions between 1700-1200 BC. between 1700-1200 BC.

The HittitesThe Hittites By 2000 BC, and Indo-By 2000 BC, and Indo-

European group called the European group called the Hittites occupied Anatolia, or Hittites occupied Anatolia, or Asia Minor. This empire also Asia Minor. This empire also occupied Babylon, and occupied Babylon, and struggled with Egypt for struggled with Egypt for control of Northern Syria. control of Northern Syria. Neither group won, so they Neither group won, so they signed a peace treaty offering signed a peace treaty offering to help fight off invaders.to help fight off invaders.

The Hittites used their own The Hittites used their own language with each other, but language with each other, but internationally they spoke internationally they spoke Akkadian, taken from Akkadian, taken from Babylon.Babylon.

Their superior weaponry Their superior weaponry skills and iron chariots to skills and iron chariots to help conquer their empire.help conquer their empire.

Despite their prowess, Despite their prowess, invaders attached and burned invaders attached and burned the Hittite capital around the Hittite capital around 1190 BC, ending the empire.1190 BC, ending the empire.

Hittite = Red

Egyptian = Green

Aryans Transform IndiaAryans Transform India Around the same time Around the same time

that the Hittites were that the Hittites were establishing themselves establishing themselves in Anatolia, the Aryans in Anatolia, the Aryans were migrating through were migrating through the Indus River Pass into the Indus River Pass into India.India.

They left little They left little archaeological evidence, archaeological evidence, but their scriptures, the but their scriptures, the Vedas, gives an idea of Vedas, gives an idea of their life through their life through prayers, spells, and prayers, spells, and instructions for instructions for performing rituals.performing rituals.

The Aryans called the The Aryans called the people they found in people they found in India the dasas, or India the dasas, or “dark,” which referred to “dark,” which referred to the color of their skin. the color of their skin. The Aryians were taller, The Aryians were taller, lighter in skin color, and lighter in skin color, and spoke a different spoke a different language from the people language from the people that they found.that they found.

They did not have a They did not have a writing system and were writing system and were more pastoral than the more pastoral than the dasas, who lived in dasas, who lived in walled cities.walled cities.

A Caste System DevelopsA Caste System Develops Aryans were divided into three Aryans were divided into three

social classes: Brahmins social classes: Brahmins (priests), warriors, and farmers. (priests), warriors, and farmers. They automatically considered They automatically considered the dasas beneath them, so they the dasas beneath them, so they became the lower class, the became the lower class, the sudras.sudras.

Class restrictions were ridged – Class restrictions were ridged – practically permanent. You practically permanent. You were part of it for life, and the were part of it for life, and the work they did and people they work they did and people they married were determined by the married were determined by the caste. Cleanliness was caste. Cleanliness was important – those considered important – those considered unclean because of their unclean because of their profession (butchers, profession (butchers, gravediggers, and collectors of gravediggers, and collectors of refuse) were outside the caste refuse) were outside the caste system and became known as system and became known as the “untouchables.” Their touch the “untouchables.” Their touch endangered the purity of endangered the purity of everyone else.everyone else.

Aryan Kingdoms AriseAryan Kingdoms Arise Over the next few centuries, Over the next few centuries,

Aryans extended their Aryans extended their settlements east and south, settlements east and south, Magadha, a major kingdom, Magadha, a major kingdom, emerged out of this expansion emerged out of this expansion and struggle for power. It and struggle for power. It covered almost all of the Indian covered almost all of the Indian subcontinent.subcontinent.

The great epic The great epic MahabharataMahabharata shows a blending of cultures as shows a blending of cultures as the Aryans moved southward. the Aryans moved southward. For example, Krishna, a semi-For example, Krishna, a semi-divine hero of the epic, is divine hero of the epic, is described as dark-faced. This described as dark-faced. This suggests he is not Aryan.suggests he is not Aryan.

The The Mahabharata’s Mahabharata’s violence and violence and confusion leads one to speculate confusion leads one to speculate about the place of gods and about the place of gods and humans in the world. Due to humans in the world. Due to this, religion gradually this, religion gradually changed…changed…